WHEN Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith from the 3rd Battalion retrieved a pine cone from the site of a battle on the Gallipoli Peninsula, his action was to have repercussions that would last for many years.
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The pine trees had been cut down by the Turks, and their branches used to cover their trenches in an area that was renamed Lone Pine by the Anzacs.
The assault on the trenches at Lone Pine was one of the costliest battles fought by the AIF during the Anzac Campaign resulting in over 2000 Australian casualties.
Private Smith sent the pine cone home to his mother (Mrs McMullen) who had lost another son in the war.
Mrs McMullen planted seeds from the pine cone in 1928 and grew two trees.
One was presented to her home town of Inverell, and the other was planted at the Australian War Memorial in 1934.
Seedlings from this tree have been propagated by the Yarralumla Nursery for many years and made available to schools and community organisations.
One of these seedlings will be planted in the Lithgow (Bowenfels) Cemetery tomorrow (April 26) by the members of the Lithgow and District Family History Society.
A plaque mounted on a rock nearby will commemorate the service of those men and women from this district who served in the Great War 1914-1918.
The ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the annual Anzac Cemetery Walk which will commence at 10am.
This year the graves of 11 more returned servicemen will be visited and a short history of each person’s military service will be told and a poppy and card laid on the grave as a tribute to their service.
Members of the public who wish to attend are invited to assemble in the car park at the Lithgow Cemetery at 10am for morning tea.
Anzac biscuits will be provided but please bring your own tea or coffee.
An invitation is extended to anyone who would like to lay a wreath at the conclusion of the official ceremony.
Inquiries may be directed to Helen Taylor on 6355 7231.
